Thursday, February 4, 2010

MANILA, Philippines – Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will fight the winner of the May 1 bout between Americans Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley, disclosed 4-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach.

“I think it will happen, and it will be Manny’s next fight. What has happened may make the fight bigger,” Roach replied to the question of The Telegraph’s Gareth Davies on when the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight will take place.

The blockbuster bout, which was scheduled on March 13, did not push through because the fighters’ camps disagreed on the drug testing procedure.

Pacquiao now has Ghanaian Joshua Clottey as his opponent in a welterweight fight on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The 2009 Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade, as declared by the Boxing Writers Association of America, will put his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on the line.

Meanwhile, Mayweather will face Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the venue of his cancelled clash with the Filipino boxing sensation.

Mosley and Mayweather have already signed the contract, according to ESPN.com. It has not yet been confirmed if Mosley, the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion, will defend his title.

Mayweather over Mosley

“I think Mayweather will fight Shane Mosley, but if he doesn’t, it will make the fight with Manny happen sooner. If Floyd does fight Shane, that’s a good fight, and one I’d like to see,” Roach stated.

He then declared his fight prediction: “But Mosley will be beaten by Floyd. Mosley does well with guys who will come at him. He has had trouble with guys who move. Mayweather wins that fight. But Mosley is a brave guy. If for any reason Mosley wins, Manny would definitely fight him. We’ll take that fight.”

Mosley was one of Team Pacquiao’s choices to be Manny’s next foe after his sensational 2nd round knockout win over Ricky Hatton last May 2.

Manny Pacquiao Profile

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao born December 17, 1978, more commonly known as Manny Pacquiao, is a Filipino professional boxer.

He is currently the WBO World welterweight champion, Ring Magazine light welterweight champion, and is rated by Ring Magazine as the number 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

He is also the former WBC World lightweight champion, WBC World super featherweight champion, IBF World super bantamweight champion, and WBC World flyweight champion. Furthermore, he is the former Ring Magazine featherweight and super featherweight champion.

Joshua Clottey Profile

Joshua Clottey (born in March 16, 1976 in Accra, Ghana) is a Welterweight boxer who hails from Accra, Ghana, but now lives in the Bronx, New York. He is the former IBF Welterweight Champion.